Television Hall of Fame

The Television Academy Hall of Fame was founded by a former president of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the late John H. Mitchell, to honor individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to television.

In the words of the selection committee, the Hall of Fame is for "persons who have made outstanding contributions in the arts, sciences or management of television, based upon either cumulative contributions and achievements or a singular contribution or achievement." Mitchell remained the chair of the Hall of Fame until his death in January 1988. He was succeeded by Edgar J. Scherick, who in turn passed the reins to Norman Lear.

The Television Hall of Fame does not have a museum open to the public like the Country Music Hall of Fame or Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame or other such "halls of fame" and does not appear to have plans for one in the near future.

The first ceremony in 1984 celebrated the careers of Lucille Ball, Milton Berle, Paddy Chayefsky, Norman Lear, Edward R. Murrow, William S. Paley and David Sarnoff. The honorees received glass statuettes in the form of two ballet dancers that were created by sculptor and painter Pascal to reflect the self-discipline required in all facets of the arts. Since 1988, inductees have brought home an award in the form of a crystal television screen atop a cast-bronze base. The new awards were designed by the late art director Romain Johnston.

New inductees are announced on an irregular basis, approximately every other year, although the new inductions were annual in the early years. No less than five new members are announced each period. All of the inductees have been individuals with the exception of the series I Love Lucy during the seventh year of inductees.

The Hall of Fame has been criticized for seemingly giving preference to individuals still highly active within the industry, albeit persons of long careers and usually well into middle age at the least.Fact|date=June 2008 Recent round of inductions have included Diane Sawyer and Katie Couric while several other major newcasters with many years more experience, including Hugh Downs, Peter Jennings, David Hartman, and Jane Pauley have yet to be inducted.

Hall of Fame Inductees

1st induction
* Lucille Ball
* Milton Berle
* Paddy Chayefsky
* Norman Lear
* Edward R. Murrow
* William S. Paley
* David Sarnoff2nd induction
* Carol Burnett
* Sid Caesar
* Walter Cronkite
* Joyce C. Hall
* Rod Serling
* Ed Sullivan
* Pat Weaver 3rd induction
* Steve Allen
* Fred Coe
* Walt Disney
* Jackie Gleason
* Mary Tyler Moore
* Frank Stanton
* Burr Tillstrom4th induction
* Johnny Carson
* Jacques Cousteau
* Leonard Goldenson
* Jim Henson
* Bob Hope
* Ernie Kovacs
* Eric Sevareid 5th induction
* Jack Benny
* George Burns & Gracie Allen
* Chet Huntley & David Brinkley
* Red Skelton
* David Susskind
* David L. Wolper 6th induction
* Roone Arledge
* Fred Astaire
* Perry Como
* Joan Ganz Cooney
* Don Hewitt
* Carroll O'Connor
* Barbara Walters7th induction
* Leonard Bernstein
* Desi Arnaz
* James Garner
* I Love Lucy
* Danny Thomas
* Mike Wallace8th induction
* Bill Cosby
* Andy Griffith
* Ted Koppel
* Sheldon Leonard
* Dinah Shore
* Ted Turner9th induction
* John Chancellor
* Dick Clark
* Phil Donahue
* Mark Goodson
* Bob Newhart
* Agnes Nixon
* Jack Webb 10th induction
* Alan Alda
* Howard Cosell
* Barry Diller
* Fred W. Friendly
* William Hanna & Joseph Barbera
* Oprah Winfrey 11th induction
* Michael Landon
* Richard Levinson and William Link
* Jim McKay
* Bill Moyers
* Dick Van Dyke
* Betty White12th induction
* Edward Asner
* Steven Bochco
* Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner
* Charles Kuralt
* Angela Lansbury
* Aaron Spelling
* Lew Wasserman 13th induction
* James L. Brooks
* Garry Marshall
* Quinn Martin
* Diane Sawyer
* Grant Tinker 14th induction
* Herbert Brodkin
* Robert MacNeil & Jim Lehrer
* Lorne Michaels
* Carl Reiner
* Fred Rogers
* Fred Silverman
* Ethel Winant 15th induction
* Tim Conway & Harvey Korman
* John Frankenheimer
* Bob Mackie
* Jean Stapleton
* Bud Yorkin 16th induction
* Bob Barker
* Art Carney
* Katie Couric
* Dan Rather
* Brandon Tartikoff
* Charles Cappleman17th induction
* Tom Brokaw
* James Burrows
* Leonard Goldberg
* Regis Philbin
* William Shatner

ee also

List of Logie Hall of Fame

Links

* [http://www.emmys.org/awards/halloffame/hofarchive.php Official site with full list of honorees]